The Ministry of Justice in United Kingdom published a draft of a bill on March 25, 2009.  This is the Bribery Bill.  The purpose was to consolidate and to update the legislation surrounding anti-corruption policies in the United Kingdom.  This created more defined terminology regarding what actually constitutes an act of bribery as well as other offenses which are considered to be acts of corruption.  Although it could take several months for the bill to pass in Parliament, many officials are in full support of the bill, and are already putting into action some of the policies.

The bill outlines the definitions of the four many offenses surrounding bribery, which involving the making and the taking of bribes, the bribing of foreign officials,  and the responsibility of each public company and section of the government to do everything in their power to ensure that acts of bribery do not take place.  This is true for the corporations in the United States as well.  When companies fail to do all that they can, or if they fail to have the ability to show that they have done all that they can, such as in proper book keeping practices and documentation, or “due diligence”, the companies and their employees are held just as legally responsible as those who are committing the crimes.

These laws go for all, for more than just those in government, to those in public offices, and private business.  Not only are those making the bribes liable for investigation and prosecution, but so too are those that are made by third parties or through agents.  The taking of bribes is as equally as punishable as the making of them.  This pertains to not only monetary bribery, but in the forms of gifts, favors and preferential treatment.  Business leaders, and government leaders around the world are taking steps to rid the world of corruption and of bribery, and many of them have come together in this fight, working as one to make the world not only a safer place, but a more just and ethical place as well.